Chapter 17 - Verbs - The Infinitive

 General Information: 

The simplest verbal form in Somali is the singular imperative.

The imperative constitutes the verbal "root."

This form is found in Somali dictionaries.

However, it's important to know that there is a form distinct from the verbal root, which can be called the infinitive, used to name verbs in conjugations.

For example: Cabid means "the verb to drink"; Cunid means "the verb to eat," and so on.

Grammarians distinguish 3 groups of verbs.

Verbs of the 1st Group have endings in -id in the infinitif.

Verbs of the 2nd Group have endings in -an or -in in the infinitive.

Verbs of the 3rd Group have endings in -i or -id in the infinitif.

In a coming chapter, we will see that Somali verbs have another "infinitive," actually a simple verbal form used only in conjunction with a small number of verbs.

This verbal form is formed by the verbal root to which -i is added when the root ends with a consonant or -n when the root ends with a vowel.

Examples: waan heesi doonaa = I will sing; waan heesi jiray = I was singing; waan heesi karaa = I can sing; etc.